United States Patent and Trademark Office
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Oflice
Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria. Virginia 22313-1450
www.uspto.gov
APPLICATION NO.
FILING DATE |
FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
CONFIRMATION NO.
10/813,285
03/29/2004
Majid Anwar
PGLD-P02-003
4523
28120 7590 02/27/2008
ROPES & GRAY LLP
PATENT DOCKETING 39/41
ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE
BOSTON, MA 021 10-2624
EXAMINER
LESPERANCE, JEAN E
ART UNIT
2629
PAPER NUMBER
MAIL DATE
DELIVERY MODE
02/27/2008 PAPER
Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
Office Action Summary
Application No.
10/813.285
Applicant(s)
ANWAR, MAJID
Examiner
Jean E. Lesperance
Art Unit
2629
- The MAILING DATE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address -
Period for Reply
A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY (30) DAYS.
WHICHEVER IS LONGER, FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
- Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
- If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to beconie ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 1 33).
Any reply received-by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
earned patent temri adjustment. See 37 CFR 1 .704(b).
Status
1 )S Responsive to communlcation(s) filed on 30 November 2007 .
2a)KI This action is FINAL. 2b)n This action is non-final.
3) n Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 CD. 1 1 , 453 O.G. 213.
Disposition of Claims
4) ^ Claim(s) 39 and 42-70 is/are pending in the application.
4a) Of the above claim(s) is/are withdrawn from consideration.
5) n Claim(s) is/are allowed.
6) IEI Claim(s) 39 and 42-70 is/are rejected.
?)□ Claim(s) is/are objected to.
8) 0 .Claim(s) are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
Application Papers
9) n The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
.10)^ The drawing(s) filed on 29 March 2004 is/are: a)^ accepted or b)l3 objected to by the Examiner.
Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1 .85(a).
Replacement drawing sheet{s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121(d).
1 !)□ The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner Note the attached Office Action or form PTO-152.
Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
12)S Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 1 19(a)-(d) or (f),
a)n All b)n Some * cM None of:
1 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
2. n Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No. .
3. D Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
Attachment(s)
1 ) ^ Notice of References Cited (PTO-892) 4) □ Inten/iew Summary (PTO-41 3)
2) □ Notice of Draftsperson's Patent Drawing Review (PT0948) Paper No(s)/Mail Date.
3) ^ Infomiation Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08) 5) □ Notice of Informal Patent Application
Paper No(s)/lVlail Date 1/11/08. 2/1/08 . 6) □ Other .
U.S. Patent and Trademailc Offica
PTOL-326 (Rev. 08-06)
Office Action Summary
Part of Paper No./Mail Date
Application/Control Number: 10/813,285 Page 2
Art Unit: 2629
DETAILED ACTION
1 . The amendment filed November 30, 2007 is entered and claims 39 and 42-70
are pending.
Response to Arguments
2. Applicant's arguments filed November 30, 2007 have been fully considered but
they are not persuasive. The applicant's representative argued that Siddiqui, the prior
art, fails to describe, teach, or suggest the translation of a plurality of content documents
into a common format that is different than their original format, or the provision of a
graphical tool that also shares the common format. In response to applicant's argument
that the references fail to show certain features of applicant's invention, it is noted that
the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., the translation of a plurality of content
documents into a common format that is different than their original format, or the
provision of a graphical tool that also shares the common fomriat) are not recited in the
rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification,
limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988
F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Applicant's arguments with respect to
claims 39-70 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of
rejection. Therefore, the rejection is maintained.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
3. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which fomis the basis for all
obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
forth in. section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
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Art Unit: 2629
invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 39 and 42-70 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
over USPN 6,097,371 by Siddiqui et al. in view USPN 5,530,865 ("Owens et al.").
Regarding claim 39, Siddiqui et al. teach the window Fig.4C (200) includes
several visual windows like (210, 212, 214, and 216) as internal representation of a
document and everyone of the internal windows having their own parameters wherein
the computer 109 displays one or more windows, such as a window 200. on the display
device 112. The window 200 contains the visual output of a particular application
running on the computer 109 (column 17, lines 62-65);
(the cursor Fig.4C (109) wherein users typically moved throughout a document .
by using cursor movement keys, the computer 109 displays a graphical "user interface"
on the display device 112. The operating system logically divides the user interface into
one or more windows (such as the window 200 shown in FIG. 4A) that are generated by
software applications. In general, each window has a separate window procedure
associated with it. The operating system maintains one or more message queues for
each software application that generates windows. As the application may generate
multiple windows, the message queue may hold messages for multiple windows. When
an event occurs, the event is translated into a message that is put into the message
queue for the application (see Fig.4A);
using the pointer 113, users could manipulate a prior art slider bar or scroll
thumb 221 within horizontal or vertical scroll bars 218 and 219 displayed in the window
200 that move a document and thereby control which portion of a document were visible
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Art Unit: 2629
in the window 200, as is known in the art. With the computer system 100 of the present
invention, a user can rapidly, spatially move through the spreadsheet document 202
without the need of cursor movement keys and page up/down keys on the keyboard
116, and without using either of the horizontal or vertical scroll bars 218 or 219 (column
19, lines 16-26);
the display device 1 12 is capable of displaving a pointer 113 and windows
displaving documents (column 7, lines 22 and 23)); and
one mode of spatial navigation, in particular, or adjusting magnification of a
document is shown with respect to an exemplary series of spreadsheet documents in a
spreadsheet application. As noted above, the computer 109 displays one or more
windows, such as a window 200, on the display device 112. The window 200 contains
the visual output of a particular application running on the computer 109 (see Figs.4A-
4C). Accordingly, the prior art teaches all the claimed limitations with the exception of
providing a plurality of content documents in a common format.
However, Owens et al. teach the capability to drag and drop different types of
information is provided only if the sending and receiving applications have a common
format in which data can be transmitted. If there is no common format in which the data
can be transmitted (e.g., text, graphics, sound, or other types of data), then abort
feedback on the user interface display will be provided from the destination or receiver
application program window (column 9, lines 32-39).
Thus, it would haVe been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the
time the invention was made to utilize the common fonnat as taught by Owens et al. in
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the system disclosed by Siddiqui et al. because this would provide an improved method
and apparatus for manipulating information in a computer system.
Regarding claim 42, Siddiqui et al. teach the tool code comprises a script (the
window 200 showis an exemplary spreadsheet document 202 at 100% magnification, as
reflected in a zoom text box 204 (see Fig.4A) wherein the zoom text box is interpreted
as a script.
Regarding claim 43, Siddiqui et al. teach the tool document file is selected from
the group of user interface control tool or window/desktop furniture (see Figure 4C).
Regarding claim 44, Siddiqui et al. teach the tool document file is representative
of interactive objects selected from the group consisting of a button, an icon, a pull
down menu, a switch, and a slider control (see Figure 4C).
Regarding claim 45, Siddiqui et al. teach the tool document file includes
information representative. of a graphical tool selected from the group consisting of a
magnifying glass, a ruler, a text entry cursor, a thumbnail navigation control, and a
query tool (one mode of spatial navigation, in particular, or adjusting magnification of a
document is shown with respect to an exemplary series of spreadsheet documents in a
spreadsheet application. As noted above, the computer 109 displays one or more
windows, such as a window 200, on the display device 112. The window 200 contains
the visual output of a particular application running on the computer 109 (column 17, 58-
65)).
Regarding claim 46, Siddiqui et al. teach the tool code associated with the tool
document file is capable of processing the content document file or the tool document
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file to create a derived document which forms part of the screen document (using the
pointer 113, users could manipulate a prior art slider bar or scroll thumb 221 within
horizontal or vertical scroll bars 218 and 219 displayed in the window 200 that move a
document and thereby control which portion of a document were visible in the window
200, as is known in the art. With the computer system 100 of the present invention, a
user can rapidly, spatially move through the spreadsheet document 202 without the
need of cursor movement keys and page up/down keys on the keyboard 116, and
without using either of the horizontal or vertical scroll bars 218 or 219 (column 19, lines
16-26)); the processed internal representation of the derived document presents the
content in a manner that achieves a display effect associated with the tool (See Figure
4-A); and the display effect is portrayed in a rendered screen document (Figure 4-C).
Regarding claim 47, Siddiqui et al. teach processed internal representation of
the derived document changes according to a contextual relationship among the
graphical tool, the content document file, and an application program in which the tool
document file is used (Discrete changes in navigating may be used when the speed of
the processor 1 15 and amount of available memory 1 14 is such that continuous
changes during navigation are not possible to show smooth transitions on the display
device 112. Additionally, with the roller 105 such discrete changes provide a particularly
intuitive and visceral method of incrementally navigating through and changing the
display of a document in the window 200. However, in an alternative embodiment, the
present invention can be equally applicable to continuous changes in navigating
(column 31, lines 39-49)).
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Regarding claim 48, Siddiqui et al. teach the contextual relationship is selected
from the group consisting of a relative position of the graphical interface tool and the
rendered content, a time at which the graphical interface tool acts on the rendered
content, and a state of the rendered content (see Figure 4C).
Regarding claim 49, Siddiqui et al. teach providing a means to move the
graphical tool to a selected position over the rendered document on the screen (the
routine 300 in steps 314, 316, 230 and 336, employs or calls known subroutines for
moving, scaling and repainting the image of the document on the display device 112.
For each detent, one or more logically adjacent groups of data, such as lines of pixels or
text, are moved in the scrolling, panning, automatic scrolling and scroll bar scrolling
modes (see Figure 13)), and directing the tool code to process a portion of the content
document file associated with a selected position (The input device of the application is
also directed to a system for selecting one of several overlapping windows or "plys."
Typical methods of selecting one of several overlapping plys requires users to position
the cursor on the desired ply and clicking the mouse to select that ply (column 2, lines
26-30)).
Regarding claim 50, Siddiqui et al. teach providing the tool code comprises
providing the tool code for creating a display effect by altering document objects and
parameters describing an internal representation of a document (the routine 300 in
steps 314, 316, 230 and 336, employs or calls known subroutines for moving, scaling
and repainting the image of the document on the display device 112. For each detent,
one or more logically adjacent groups of data, such as lines of pixels or text, are moved
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in the scrolling, panning, automatic scrolling and scroll bar scrolling modes (see Figure
13)) and (the size of another word processing document 270 can be altered within the
window 200 from a magnification of 100% (FIG. 9A) to a magnification of 15% (FIG. 9B)
by rotating the wheel 106. Notably, as shown in FIG. 9B, the pages of the document
270 are arranged in a two row by four column layout to thereby permit a greater number
of pages to be displayed in the window 200 than in the embodiment of FIG. 8C. (see
Figs.9A and 9B)).
Regarding claim 51, Siddiqui et al. teach altering document objects and
parameters comprises modifying the internal representation to add a content to the
screen document (the size of another word processing document 270 can be altered
within the window 200 from a magnification of 100% (FIG. 9A) to a magnification of 15%
(FIG. 98) by rotating the wheel 106. Notably, as shown in FIG. 98, the pages of the
document 270 are arranged in a two row by four column layout to thereby permit a
greater number of pages to be displayed in the window 200 than in the embodiment of
FIG. 8C. (see Flgs.9A and 98)) wherein by decreasing the magnification from 100% to
15%, more information on the screen document with is added to the display.
Regarding claim 52, Siddiqui et al. teach rendering the screen document
comprises generating a view of the screen document expressed in terms of primitive
figures and parameters (see Fig. 5) wherein the screen document (200) includes a
plurality of different displays with different shapes and with different parameters.
Regarding claim 53, Siddiqui et al. teach the primitive figures are defined in
terms of a bounding box, a shape, a transparency, and a data content of the figure (see
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Fig. 5) wherein the screen document (200) includes a plurality of different displays with
different shapes. .
Regarding claim 54, Siddiqui et al. teach providing the tool code comprises
providing the tool code that processes the generated view of the screen document to
create a display effect by altering the parameters of the primitive figures that make up
the view of the screen document (the size of another word processing document 270
can be altered within the window 200 from a magnification of 1 00% (FIG. 9A) to a
magnification of 15% (FIG. 9B) by rotating the wheel 106. Notably, as shown in FIG. 9B,
the pages of the document 270 are arranged in a two row by four column layout to
thereby permit a greater number of pages to be displayed in the window 200 than in the
embodiment of FIG. 8C. (see Figs.9A and 9B)).
Regarding claim 55, Siddiqui et al. teach altering the parameters of the primitive
figures comprises altering parameters selected from the group consisting essentially of
a scale, a transparency, and a color of selected figures within the screen document (the
routine 300 in steps 314, 316, 230 and 336, employs or calls known subroutines for
moving, scaling and repainting the image of the document on the display device 112.
For each detent, one or more logically adjacent groups of data, such as lines of pixels or
text, are moved in the scrolling, panning, automatic scrolling and scroll bar scrolling
modes (see Figure 13)) and (the size of another word processing document 270 can be
altered within the window 200 from a magnification of 100% (FIG. 9A) to a magnification
of 15% (FIG. 98) by rotating the wheel 106. Notably, as shown in FIG. 98, the pages of
the document 270 are an^anged in a two row by four column layout to thereby pemilt a
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greater number of pages to be displayed in the window 200 than in the embodiment of
FIG. 8C. (see Figs.QA and 9B)).
Regarding claim 56, Siddiqui et al. teach processing the generated view of the
screen document comprises clipping selected figures within the view of the screen
document to a clipping area associated with the tool document file (the routine 300 in
steps 314, 316, 230 and 336, employs or calls known subroutines for moving, scaling
and repainting the image of the document on the display device 112. For each detent,
one or more logically adjacent groups of data, such as lines of pixels or text, are moved
in the scrolling, panning, automatic scrolling and scroll bar scrolling modes (see Figure
13)) wherein the subroutines for moving user the cursor Fig. 10a (109) which can move
a file from one area of the screen document to another area of the screen document is
interpreted as clipping.
Regarding claim 57, Siddiqui et al. teach rendering the screen document
comprises receiving a view control input that defines a viewing context and related
temporal parameters to generate a context-specific view of the screen document (Under
control of the operating system, the computer 109 displays a graphical "user interface"
on the display device 112. The operating system logically divides the user interface into
one or more windows (such as the window 200 shown in FIG. 4A) that are generated by
software applications (column 16, lines 17-22)).
Regarding claim 58, Siddiqui et al. teach the context-specific view is selected
from the group consisting of all of the document objects within the screen document, a
whole document object, parts of one or some of the document objects within the screen
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document (text box Fig.4C (204) is a document object within the screen document).
Regarding claim 59, Siddiqui et al. teach the view control input is interpreted to
determine which parts of th^ internal representation of the screen document are
required for the context-specific view (The pointer 1 13 is shown in the window 200, and
as described above, is controlled by the X and Y axis computer signals produced by the
mouse 101 (see Figure 4A)).
Regarding claim 60, Siddiqui et al. teach the view control input is interpreted to
detemnine how, when and for how long the view is to be displayed (The pointer 1 13 is
shown in the window 200, and as described above, is controlled by the X and Y axis
computer signals produced by the mouse 101 (see Figure 4A)).
Regarding claim 61 /Siddiqui et al. teach the graphical tool is presented on the
display by means of a tool button that may be activated by a user (the cursor Fig.4C),
and
ii. activation of the tool button by the user results in processing of the tool
document file to create an image of the graphical tool within the display (see Fig.4C).
Regarding claim 62, Siddiqui et al. teach the tool code associated with the tool .
document file is capable of processing the content document file or the tool document
file to create a derived document which forms part of the screen document (the cursor
Fig.4c (109) interpreted as the tool is a portion of the display as a user interface to
manipulate the display),
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II. the processed internal representation of the derived document presents the
content in a manner that achieves a display effect associated with the tool (see Fig. 40),
and
III. the display effect is portrayed in the rendered screen document when the
user activates the tool button (the cursor Fig.4c (109) interpreted as the tool is rendered
in the screen document).
Regarding claim 63, Siddiqui et al. teach the objects of the internal
representation of the content document file and the tool document file are selected from
the group consisting essentially of a text object, a bitmap graphic object, and a vector
graphic object (the window 200 shows an exemplary spreadsheet document 202 at
100% magnification, as reflected in a zoom text box 204 (see Figure 4A)).
Regarding claim 64, Siddiqui et al. teach the object is animated (the cursor
Fig.4C (109) represents the moving object on window Fig.4C (200)).
Regarding claim 65, Siddiqui et al. teach the object is not animated (window
object Fig.4C (218) is not animated).
Regarding claim 66, Siddiqui et al. teach the object is two-dimensional (Certain
pointing devices allow three or more signals to be input to a computer to permit illusory
positioning of a cursor in three -dimensional space on a two-dimensional visual display
(column 2, lines 45-49)).
Regarding claim 67, Siddiqui et al. teach the object is three-dimensional (Certain
pointing devices allow three or more signals to be input to a computer to permit illusory
positioning of a cursor in three- dimensional space on a two-dimensional visual display
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(column 2, lines 45-49)).
Regarding claim 68, Siddiqui et al. teach the object is selected from the group
consisting of a video object, an audio object, and an interactive object (the displayed
Item or " video o biect" can be a cursor, graphic, or other image or graphical data
represented on the visual display (column 2, lines 18-20)).
Regarding claim 69, Siddiqui et al. teach the object is selected from the group
consisting of a button, an icon, a pull down menu, a switch, and a slider control (setting
button Fig. 14A (353)).
Regarding claim 70, Siddiqui et al. teach an internal representation of a graphical
display (see Fig.4C).
Conclusion
4. Applicant's amendment-necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP
§ 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37
CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within
TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the
shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1 .136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
Application/Control Number: 10/813,285
Page 14
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the advisory action. In no event, liowever, will the statutory period for reply expire later
than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
ably examiner should be directed to Jean Lesperance whose telephone number is (571)
272-7692. The examiner can normally be reached on from Monday to Friday between
10:OOAM and 6:30PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
supervisor, Shalwala Bipin, can be reached on (571) 272-7681.
Any response to this action should be mailed to:
Hand-delivered responses should be brought to Crystal Park II, 2121 Crystal
drive, Arlington, VA, Sixth Floor (Receptionist).
Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application or
proceeding should be directed to the technology Center 2600 Customer Service Office
whose telephone number Is (703) 306-0377.
Jean Lesperance/^
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
Washington. D.C. 20231
or faxed to:
(571) 273-8300 (for Technology Center 2600 only)
SUJERVISCPY PATEWT EXAMIKER